Legislation Seeks Steel Cents and Nickels

Two bills were introduced in the House of Representatives on December 15, 2011 which seek to immediately alter the metallic composition of the one cent and five cent coins. Although the text of the bills is not yet available, statements released by Rep. Steve Stivers who introduced the bills H.R. 3693 and H.R. 3694 indicate that the legislation would require the coins to be made from steel.
“This legislation is a common-sense solution to decrease the cost of minting pennies and nickels,” said Stivers. “Not only will it cost less, but steel is an American resource that we have and can manufacture right here in our backyard.”
Since 2006, the cost to manufacture and produce both the cent and nickel have exceeded their face values. Based on the most recent information from the US Mint’s 2010 annual report, the costs were 1.79 cents for each cent and 9.22 cents for each nickel. The total losses related to producing cents and nickels from 2006 to 2010 are $243.1 million.
Under existing law, the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe a composition of copper and zinc for the one cent coin. Currently, the coins are struck in copper plated zinc with a net composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. The five cent coin is currently required under law to consist of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The bills introduced by Stivers would require both coins to be made from steel, with the penny coated in copper. According to Stivers, the appearance of the coins would not change, just the materials to make them.
Both the cent and nickel have undergone radical changes in composition during the last century. In 1943, the cent was struck in zinc plated steel due to wartime needs for copper. This change was only temporary. In 1982, the composition of the cent was permanently changed from the previous 95% copper and 5% zinc to the current copper plated zinc composition. From 1942 to 1945, the composition of the nickel was changed to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese to preserve more copper and nickel for wartime needs.
In light of the higher cost of base metals in recent years, there have been some legislative attempts to further alter the composition of cents and nickels. In 2008, a bill was introduced seeking to require the cents to be immediately produced primarily from steel treated to impart a copper color. The same bill called for five cent coins to be produced in nickel coated steel or an alternative metallic content within a two year time frame. The bill was passed in the House, but ultimately did not become law.
At the end of 2010, a bill was passed and signed into law which provided the Secretary of the Treasury with the authority to conduct research and development activities related to coinage materials. At the end of a two year period, a report is due to Congress, which may make suggestions for alternative coinage materials. The first report is required before December 14, 2012. Any actual changes in composition resulting from the report would need to be made through legislation passed by Congress.
The two bills introduced yesterday by Rep. Stivers have been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. Each bill is cosponsored by two Ohio Representatives, the state from which Stivers also hails. Ohio is one of the three top steel producing states in the country.

The Unusual State of Our Circulating Coinage

The stated primary mission of the United States Mint is to manufacture and distribute circulating coins, precious metals, collectible coins, and national medals to meet the needs of the United States. The Mint must carry out this mission in adherence with the laws established by Congress and the requirements set forth under the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury. In recent years, the various laws and requirements, the rising cost of base metals, and shifts in demand from circulation have left five out of six circulating denominations in an unusual state.
The cent and nickel each cost more than their face value to produce and distribute. The quarter dollar is in the midst of a lengthy circulating commemorative program, although unfortunately the coins are nowhere to be found within circulation. The half dollar continues to be minted but is not issued for circulation. The $1 coins are issued in five different designs, while at the same time paper $1 bills are issued for the same denomination. After recent developments at least four of the $1 coin designs will no longer be issued for circulation.
This article will examine the legal requirements, specifications, cost to manufacture, senigiorage generation, and production for each of the circulating coin denominations.

The one cent coin currently features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Union Shield on the reverse. By law, the coins are required to have a diameter of 0.75 inch and a composition of copper and zinc. Currently, the coin are struck in copper plated zinc with a net composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. The current value of the metal included is is 0.4956 cents. (All metal values from Coinflation.)
Based on the figures included in the US Mint’s most recently issued annual report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, it cost 1.79 cents to produce and distribute each cent. This cost has exceeded one cent for the past five years, resulting in negative seigniorage, or a net cost to produce and distribute the cent. From 2006 to 2010, the production and distribution of the cent has generated a loss of $127.8 million.

For the current year through November 30, 2011, the US Mint has struck 4.63 billion cents for circulation. This exceeds the prior year total of 4.01 billion.

The five cent coin, or nickel, currently features a portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and his Monticello home on the reverse. By law, the coins are required to have a diameter of 0.835 inch and weight of 5 grams. The composition is required to be an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. The current metal value included in each coin is 4.93 cents. There have been lengthy periods of time when the metal value of the nickel has exceeded its face value.
Based on the figures from the US Mint’s latest annual report, it cost 9.22 cents to produce and distribute each nickel. The cost has exceeded the face value from 2006 to 2010, generating a loss of $115.3 million.

For the current year through November 30, 2011, the US Mint has produced 938.16 million nickels for circulation. This is up sharply from the 2010 annual total of 490.56 million.

The ten cent coin or dime features a portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt on the obverse and a torch with sprigs of olive and oak to each side on the reverse. By law, the coins are required to have a diameter of 0.705 inch and weight of 2.268 grams. These coins are smaller and lighter than the lower denomination nickel since before 1965, the dime was struck in 90% silver. Currently, the composition consists of two identical outer layers that are an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel with an inner core of copper. The net composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel.
Based on the US Mint’s most recent annual report, it cost 4.56 cents to produce and distribute each dime. The production of dimes for the most recent fiscal year generated seigniorage of $60.5 million.
For the current year through November 30, 2011 the US Mint’s production of dimes for circulation has reached 1.43 billion. This already exceeds the prior year’s annual production of 1.1 billion.

The twenty five cent coin or quarter dollar features a portrait of George Washington on the obverse and five different reverse designs per year representing national parks or sites. The rotating reverse designs are issued as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, which is scheduled to run from 2010 to 2020. Although these are intended to be circulating commemorative coins, obtaining the coins through the channels of circulation has been difficult due to minimal production levels.
When the program was conceived, the US Mint had just completed the hugely successful 50 State Quarters Program. At least part of the impetus for creating the new program was the potential to earn increased seigniorage from another lengthy program. So far, ten different designs have been dutifully issued under the program, however the mintages have been at a fraction of the levels of the previous State Quarters.
To date, the US Mint has struck 738.2 million America the Beautiful Quaters for circulation over the course of two years and ten different designs. This amount still does not reach the circulation production level for the first coin of the State Quarters Program featuring Delaware, which had production of 774.82 million. Over the first ten designs of the State Quarters series, production was 10.9 billion.

The quarter dollar has a diameter of 0.955 inch under law and a weight of 5.67 grams. The composition consists of two outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel with an inner core of copper. The overall composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. The metal value of the quarter is 4.57 cents, and the US Mint’s cost to produce and distribute the quarter based on the most recent annual report is 9.56 cents each.
The total seigniorage earned from the quarter in the most recent fiscal year was 31.0 million. This is down from 132.2 million for the 2009 fiscal year and down from 354.1 million for the 2008 fiscal year.

The half dollar features a portrait of John F. Kennedy on the obverse and the Presidential Seal on the reverse. By law, the coins have diameter of 1.205 inches and weight of 11.34 grams. The composition is the same as the dime and quarter, with outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel over a core of pure copper. The net composition is 91.67% copper and 8.33% nickel. The metal value of the half dollar is 9.14 cents.
The United States Mint does not provide the cost to produce and distribute the half dollar. Since 2002, the coins have not been distributed through circulation channels, but rather only the minimal number of coins necessary to meet demand from collectors hasbeen produced.
During the 2010 calendar year, there were 3.5 million circulation strike half dollars produced. For the current year to date, production is indicated as 3.45 million. These coins are sold to collectors at a premium to face value. The numismatic revenue earned from the sale of half dollars to collectors is not broken out by the United States Mint. Currently, the US Mint sells two roll sets containing $20 face value in coins for $34.95 or 200-coin bags containing $100 face value in coins for $134.95.

The $1 coins are currently produced under two separate programs, yielding five different designs per year. The Presidential Dollar Program features the portraits former Presidents on the obverse with an image of the Statue of Liberty on the reverse of each coin. Four different coins are released each year. The Native American Dollar Program features a portrait of Sacagawea and child on the obverse and an annually rotating reverse design representing the contributions and accomplishments of Native Americans.
By law, the Presidential Dollar Program is required to continue at a rate of four different designs per year until all former Presidents who have been deceased for at least two years have been honored. Recently, the Treasury Department has indicated that production of the series for circulation will be suspended, and the coins will only be produced in the limited number needed to fulfill demand from collectors.
There is a legal requirement for the Federal Reserve Banks to make each design for the Presidential Dollar series available to depository institutions in unmixed quantities during an introductory period. The recent actions of the Treasury Department will make it impossible for Reserve Banks to fulfill this legal requirement.
The Treasury Department did not indicate any changes to the Native American Dollar Program, which does not have an ending date specified under law. There is a requirement for at least 20% of all dollar coins minted and issued each year to be Native American Dollars.
Both series of dollar coins are required to have a diameter of 1.043 inches, a golden color, distinctive edge, and tactile and visual features that make the coins readily discernible. Currently, the coins have an outer layer consisting of 77% copper, 12% zinc, 7% manganese, and 4% nickel, bonded to a core of pure copper. The net composition is 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, and 2% nickel. The metal value of the coin is 5.61 cents.
According to the US Mint’s most recent annual report, it cost 31.57 cents to produce and distribute each dollar coin. It should be noted that 16.59 cents consists of “costs of goods sold”, 14.69 cents consists of “sales, general & administrative”, and 0.29 cents consists of “distribution to FRB”. The denomination carries a disproportionately large amount of administrative costs compared to other denominations.
For the 2010 fiscal year, the dollar coin generated $282.8 million in seigniorage. On an overall basis, this denomination accounted for 94% of the seigniorage generated across all circulating denominations. The shipment of dollar coins also accounted for 69.7% of the US Mint’s total seigniorage and net income.

For the current year through November 30, 2011, the US Mint has produced 297.36 million Presidential Dollars and 77.56 million Native American Dollars for circulation. In the previous year, the total annual production was 321.44 million Presidential Dollars and 80.78 million Native American Dollars.